origins

noun

plural of origin
1
as in sources
a point or place at which something is invented or provided the origins of human language remain a matter of considerable debate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in roots
the source from which something grows or develops the origin of the tradition of giving presents at Christmastime

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lineages
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended they could trace their origins back 15 generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of origins The first women’s pro league in 72 years will honor the game’s origins and its pioneers. — James Raia, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 The origins of the potluck One of the first references to large communal meals where every attendee contributed is in the Bible. — Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 30 July 2026 Follow-up observations might help scientists better understand the origins of these rare planets. — Chris Young july 30, Refractor, 30 July 2026 Just days before the hearing, Paul released over 1,000 pages of Fauci's private diary entries from the pandemic period, accusing him of hiding the truth about COVID-19's origins. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 July 2026 More to Explore The origins of life were under active scientific investigation. — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 30 July 2026 Fauci was subpoenaed earlier this month to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to be questioned about the origins of COVID-19 and his role during the pandemic. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 30 July 2026 More than 150 scientists and prior GOP investigations say there is no evidence tying Fauci to wrongdoing, as experts point instead to likely natural origins and Washington tightens oversight of high-risk lab research. — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Its origins trace to Triple-A Sugar Land, where Lambert began this breakout season. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for origins
  1. sources
  2. roots
  3. lineages
  4. cradles
  5. beginnings
  6. ancestries
  7. pedigrees
  8. genealogies
Noun
  • El Niño and La Niña are the biggest sources of seasonal climate predictability.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The current outbreak has previously been linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, but officials haven’t ruled out additional sources of the infection.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of sources
Noun
  • The Buffalo Rose Saloon (Golden) Located in the heart of downtown Golden, the buildings that house The Buffalo Rose events complex have roots that are as old as the city itself.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
  • In keeping with its sister business, Trophy Club will dig deep into its golf roots.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of roots
Noun
  • So there seems to be something actively problematic with the DNA from those lineages in these regions.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
  • The research team, led by Ellie Bourgikos and Nathan Grubaugh at the Yale School of Public Health, estimates that one of the virus’s two major lineages arrived in the Northeast by the early 1700s.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of lineages
Noun
  • Egypt, one of the word’s cradles of civilization, is also a vibrant, modern country.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
  • This 10-pack of plastic melon cradles was a lifesaver last year once my pumpkins started maturing late July.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
Definition of cradles
Noun
  • The evening ritual is a sweet hat tip to the property’s beginnings—more on that below.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • Astrologically, solar eclipses are equivalent to a super potent new moon, and are often associated with new beginnings, redirections and chapters that continue developing over time.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
Definition of beginnings
Noun
  • In a small number of cases, similar ancestries were grouped together.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Eastern and western ancestries in Karelian Mesolithic dogs suggest that two lineages diverged during the Paleolithic.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of ancestries
Noun
  • Lower-budget genre films—Backrooms, Obsession and Iron Lung, many driven by creators with YouTube and small-screen pedigrees—have broken through with younger viewers.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • The son of a major leaguer turned long-time coach and brother of the Yankees’ top prospect, Jacob has perhaps one of the best pedigrees in this draft class.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of pedigrees
Noun
  • The seal texts often introduced the owners with their names, genealogies, gender, professions and hometowns.
    — Serdar Yalçin, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Transcripts, grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, glyph studies, botanical studies, commentaries, articles, editions of codices, correspondence, maps, charts, drawings, photographs, Maya Society materials, genealogies of Maya families, and Mayan glyphs on moveable type.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of genealogies

Browse Nearby Words

originators
origins
orison
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Cite this Entry

“Origins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/origins. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of origins for Spanish Speakers

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